black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Seven black / white photographs taken from above a township. Chimney smoke can be seen in the photographs.

Historical information

All photographs seem to have been takenfrom the Telecom tower on the corner of Browning and Wolseley Streets in Orbost
3259.1 is a view of the Orbost township looking north-east. The swimming pool and bowling club can be seen in the foreground.
3259.2 is aview looking north-west and showing the tennis courts and clubhouse, the Recreation Reserve oval, the Youth Centre, Historical Museum, Municipal Offices, Senior Citizens clubrooms with the fire station in the foreground.
3259.3 is a view looking south with the Shire of Orbost Municipal offices and Ruskin Street in the foreground. Munro Street can be seen running from Ruskin Street to St Joseph's School in the middle distance. Lochiel Park oval, Lochiel House, the Snowy River and highway bridge are in the background.
3259.4 is a view looking south showing the Club Hotel, C.B.C. Bank in the middle distance and Hoffman's paddock (Forest Park) and the Snowy River beyond.
3259.5 is a view looking north-east over houses.
3259.6 is aview over the main street, Nicholson Street.showing the main shopping precinct. Shop signs for Permewans, Williams Shoes, F.B. Dicken and Orbost Bakery can be seen.
3259.7 is a view looking south west and shows Forest park and beyond towards Bete Bolong.

Significance

These photographs are detailed pictorial records of the township of Orbost.

black and white photograph

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Three copies of a black / white photograph of a main road, unsealed with wooden buildings on both sides.The building on the right side of the photograph has a verandah with several people standing under the awning, There seems to be two or three young children further down on the edge of the road.

Historical information

This photograph has been taken looking down Nicholson Street, Orbost. Temple's Store is on the left and the Club Hotel on the right. The township began to take shape about 1885.
(More information from Newsletter August, 2004 Pauline Wilkinson)

Significance

This is a very early pictorial record of early Orbost township.

Inscriptions & Markings

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Two black / white photographs showing the construction of a road bridge across a river. 3257.1 shows piles being dropped beside the bridge, 3257.2 is of the early stages of construction of this bridge.

Historical information

These are photographs of the construction of the current cement road bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. Construction of the bridges commenced in January 1975, with an expectation to open the bridge across the Snowy River as soon as possible. Less than two years later, on 25 November 1976, the bridge across the Snowy River was opened to traffic, allowing the old bridge to be demolished. The remainder of the Orbost Bypass, both the floodplain crossings and the eastern section around the township itself, was declared ‘Princes Freeway’ and opened to traffic in December 1977. (ref http://mrv.ozroads.com.au)

Significance

The opening of this Snowy River Bridge was an important development in the accessibility to the township of Orbost. These photographs record its construction.

Significance

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Four black / white photographs of road construction and rail bridges.

Historical information

3255.1 is a photograph of the Princes Freeway construction of the roadway embankment at the foot of Newmerella Hill. 3255.2 is of the construction of the roadway, the Princes Freeway looking down from Newmerella toward Orbost. 3255.3 shows the Princes Freeway from Grandview , Newmerella, and shows the southern end of Ashby's Gulch with its bridge. 3255.4 is of the Princes Freeway showing the bridge across Ashby's Gulch and a train on the railway viaduct.
Ashby's Gulch is named for the Ashby family. The Ashby family was one of the early settlers in Orbost at Newmerella. Roy Ashby, son of James Rowland Ashby and Edith Annie Hall, was born on 21 Nov 1892 in Orbost. Victoria. Australia and died in 1942 in Orbost. Victoria. Australia at age 50. Roy married Elsie May Stephens, daughter of James Stephens and Sarah Taylor, in 1920 in Victoria.Australia. Elsie was born on 15 Sep 1898 in Beaconsfield Tasmania.Australia and died in 1974 in Orbost Australia at age 76. Their children were: Roy Ashby, William Henry Ashby, Cordelia Valma Ashby and Edith Ashby.

Significance

This photograph is associated with the construction of the main roads into Orbost. It is also connected to the Orbost to Bairnsdale Railway.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Two black / white photographs of a gravel road on the side of a cutting. Both have a coach on the road.

Historical information

3254.1 shows aTculvert over the gully at the foot of Burn’s Hill cutting at Newmerella and has been taken looking up tpward Burn's Cutting at Newmerella .Photograph 3254.2 has been taken from below the cutting.
More information in Newsletter, November 2010.

Significance

These photographs are pictorial records of Burn's Cutting and the old coach road in a time before the establishment of the Orbost to Bairnsdale railway line.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Nine small black / white photographs of flood damage,

Historical information

These are photographs taken during the 1934 flood at Orbost.
From The Argus (Melbourne) on January 10 1934 "Damage estimated at £500,000 has been caused by the floods in the Orbost district. No loss of life occurred, largely owing to the heroic efforts of rescue parties. Many families spent Monday night on the roofs of houses or in trees, surrounded by deep, rushing flood waters."
This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge - the centre span was washed away -. wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle.

Significance

These photographs are pictorial records of the 1934 floods at Orbost, a significant event in the history of Orbost.

Inscriptions & Markings

3253.2 on back - "Waters rushing down Princes Highway and....of......where you see the waves"
3253.3 on back - "rushing flood waters over Lochiel Park Bridge approach at the rear of picture 1934"

black and white photograph

A black / white photograph of floodwaters. In the middle of the water can be see debris including a large spoked wheel. In the background are houses and fences.

Historical information

From The Argus (Melbourne) on January 10 1934 "Damage estimated at £500,000 has been caused by the floods in the Orbost district. No loss of life occurred, largely owing to the heroic efforts of rescue parties. Many families spent Monday night on the roofs of houses or in trees, surrounded by deep, rushing flood waters."
This 1934 flood was devastating, destroying a section of the 1922 Orbost bridge - the centre span was washed away -. wrecking fences, bridges and roads, dumping silt and debris on the rich river flats and drowning cattle.

Significance

This is a pictorial record of the 1934 flood, a significant event in the history of Orbost.

Inscriptions & Markings

on back - "near Hilyer's garage at foot of hill Main Street Caravan Park on right"
on front at bottom left - "1934"

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Two black / white photographs which are designed to fir together to make a panorama. They are of river flats with maize crops and houses in the background. The photographs have been taken from a high point.

Historical information

These photographs were taken from Warren's property at Newmerella. They were taken looking to the north-west.

Significance

These photographs form an interesting panoramic landscape of the Snowy River flats in Orbost. The method of photographing two scenes and placing them side-by-side was used if a specialist panoramic camera was unavailable.

Inscriptions & Markings

bread knife

Historical information

This knife was used by Lottie Rem who ran the cookhouse at Astergren;s Timber Mill at Cabbage Tree in East Gippsland from 1954 until 1966.. It was bought in Orbost around 1957 - 1958.
Sited on the banks of the Cabbage Tree Creek, the township was built by the timber mills to house their workers. Although the timber mills have disappeared, some of the buildings still remain. The "Cook House" and "Manager's House" are two buildings. The Cook House was built to supply meals to the workers of the Alstergren Mill. Some of the original interior walls were made from hessian and wallpaper. The few houses to survive to today are now used as private dwellings.

Significance

The Cabbage Tree Creek township was established to support the booming timber industry of the mid 20th century. Five timber mills worked full time supporting the families that were drawn to the area's wealth of natural resources. this item is associated with the history of Cabbage Tree.

Inscriptions & Markings

on blade -""Made in Sheffield expressly for Orbost Hardware and Timber Co, Orbost"

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Three black / white photographs of a truss bridge across a river.

Historical information

These photographs are of the bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost which was replaced in 1976. This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.

Significance

This bridge was replaced in 1976 after several major floods. This is a pictorial record of that bridge.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Two small black / white photographs of a road bridge across a river. 3248.1 is a close-up of wooden pylons.

Historical information

These photographs are of the 1922 road bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.

Significance

This bridge was replaced in 1976 after several major floods. These photographs are pictorial records of the 1922 brige.

Inscriptions & Markings

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Ten black / white photographs of a road bridge demolition. In the photographs are cranes, one on a barge, and workmen

Historical information

This is a series of photographs of the demolition of the 1922 bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.

Significance

This bridge was replaced in 1976 after several major floods. These photographs record the demolition of that bridge.

Inscriptions & Markings

black and white photographs

Four black / white photographs of the demolition of a road bridge across a river. In them can be seen trucks, excavators and workmen. In 3246.1 there is a triangular road sign - "LOW CLEARANCE 3.9m"

Historical information

These photographs are of the demolition of the road bridge across the Snowy River at Orbost. This bridge over the Snowy River was opened on July 4 1922. It was constructed in 1922 alongside the previous suspension bridge. Its building was a combined effort of the Victorian Railways and the Country Roads Board at a cost of 35,000 pounds. It was replaced in 1976 by the present bridge after several major floods.

Significance

This bridge was replaced in 1976 after several major floods. These photographs are pictorial records of its demolition.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Three black / white photographs of a Bailey bridge being erected across a river. 3245.1 and 3245.2 are the same.

Historical information

After the damage from the February 1971 floods at Orbost when the abutment to the Snowy River road bridge was washed away a Bailey bridge, portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge, was put into place to ensure town access, the C.R.B. rebuilt the approach to the bridge driving new piles and constructing the Bailey bridge. They worked late into the night under flood lights to ensure the link from the Orbost township to the Princes Freeway would be open to traffic as soon as possible.

Significance

These photographs are pictorial records of a significant event in the history of Orbost.

photograph

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

A sepia photograph of eleven men, wearing suits and waistcoats, standing on a vacant block of land. In the background are houses among tress. The photograph is mounted on grey card - rectangular with rounded corners.

Historical information

This photograph shows members of the first Orbost Agricultural Show committee..
The first meeting to form an Agricultural society in Orbost was convened by the then Orbost Progress Association and held in the Mechanics Hall on Saturday, 10th October 1891. Its first show was held on 3rd March 1904...on a site alongside the Bonang Road where the present Golf Club stands. It is currently held at the Recreation Reserve at Newmerella. (Ref: In Times Gone By-Deborah Hall)

Significance

This item is associated with the Orbost Agricultural Society 's Annual Show which has been a major event in Orbost for over a century.
Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.

Inscriptions & Markings

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Nine black / white photographs of flood waters across roads.

Historical information

The road to Marlo was cut by flood waters from the Snowy River in two places. The road was closed when water flowed over Gilbert's Gulch (3243.1)
The Snowy River broke its banks and flooded surrounding Orbost, Marlo, Lochend and Jarrahmond were isolated. The river bank at the bridge site was broken and filled with earth and rock fill. (3243.2)
The new Snowy River Bridge was nearing completion when the river rose 7.2 metres causing erosion on the eastern bank. (3243.7)
Contractors involved in the construction of the Princes Freeway and bridge were delayed by the flood waters. (3243.8)

Significance

The 1976 flood at Orbost was a significant event which delayed the construction of the current Snowy River Road Bridge.These photographs record that event.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Ten black / white photographs related to the unofficial opening of the Snowy River Bridge at Orbost.

Historical information

All of these photographs were taken prior to 25th November, 1876, the official opening and crossing of the current Snowy River Bridge. Gary Downey, an Orbost Apeian, did a "De Groot" and crossed the bridge on horseback prior to the official cars crossing the bridge to signal the opening of the new structure. There was a closing ceremony for the old bridge with a group arriving in a 1927 Chrysler, owned by Apexian, Peter Dreverman. This was watched by groups of school students. Some of the Apex members, including Jim Duggan, Noel Smart and Pat Hall, dressed in formal attire to speak to the audience.

Significance

This event was organised by the Apex Club of Orbost.The Apex Club of Orbost was a volunteer service club which contributed to the Orbost community. A declining population has led to the demise of many social groups in the area.

black and white photographs

Orbost & District Historical Society , Orbost

Four black / white photographs of construction sites. 3241.1 is of three cranes and other machinery with six persons. 3241.2 is of workmen working on flooded site. 3241.3 is a photograph of the early stages of construction of a bridge looking towards the township. 3241.4 shows the construction of a roadway between the bridges.

Historical information

Construction of the roadway embankment between the bridges across the Snowy River flood plains at Orbost commenced in January 1974 and was completed in November 1976. Pearsons were the bridge contractors for the construction of the Princes Freeway and bridges across the river flood plains at Orbost. Heavy rains and floods held up progress.

Significance

These photographs are of the construction of a major structure in Orbost. The opening of this Snowy River Bridge was an important development in the accessibility to the township of Orbost.

black and white photographs

Eleven black / white photographs all related to the official opening of the current Snowy River Bridge.
Details are in catalogue folder.

Historical information

These photographs were taken on November 25, 1976 at the official opening of the current Snowy River road bridge. Included in the photographs are: John Duggan; Pat Hall, C.R.B. chairman, R.E.V. Donaldson (3240.7) and J.A.Rafferty, the state minister for Transport, who cut the ribbon (3240.8). Di Young and Cheryl Dusting (3240.9) distributed souvenir information pamphlets to official guests.
The Snowy River road bridge is one of four built as part of the 8.4 km project spanning the Orbost flood plains. The Snowy River bridge and another over the nearby Ashbys Gulch are among the 10 longest bridges in Victoria, being the eighth and fifth longest respectively. The new bridge removed through traffic from Orbost township crossing the Snowy River 45 m downstream of the old bridge.This bridge is the fourth to provide a crossing to the township of Orbost. (info from CRB NEWS No. 34. DECEMBER, 1976)

Significance

These photographs are pictorial records of a significant event in Orbost's history.